Most parties opt for electoral alliances
A lane in a cantonment area of Karachi adorned with flags of various political parties. Photo: online
Most political parties find entering electoral alliance for the general elections as the best option, as was done at the time of local government polls, and prefer to support major parties in Karachi.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has backed Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) on NA-239, while it fielded its candidate against JUI in Karachi elections on national and provincial seats.
In PS-116 west, JUI is supporting the MQM candidate. Awami National Party (ANP) has supported Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) on PS-105, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on PS-95, JUI on PS-118, NA-245, and PS-114.
Read: Key Karachi constituencies could be anybody’s game
JUI and ANP are face-to-face on PS-97. MQM has backed ANP in PS-88, whereas ANP has backed MQM in Karachi central and south seats. PML-N and GDA are running against each other for many seats while PML-N and Jamaat-e-Islami have backed GDA candidate Irfan Ullah Marwat in PS-105.
The PML-N and the PPP have not yet announced their nominees for NA-232, although they are both supporting Shah Owais Noorani of the JUP. Candidates from JUI and MQM are running in NA-245 and PS-118, while JUI has backed MQM on many seats in district east.
Imran Parwani, who was elected as UC chairman in the local body election on the PTI ticket, is also contesting the election on the provincial seat.